Enabling e-Learning's blogs

Tēnā koutou, talofa lava, malo e lelei and welcome to the first e-Learning pānui from across the VLN for 2015.

We have a new calendar of events for Term 1, so please feel free to bookmark these in your own calendars or share them with your colleagues and friends. We'd love to hear how Enabling e-Learning can meet your e-learning needs online in 2015, so please take 5 minutes to complete this quick survey and let us know what you'd like to see more of.

Each fortnight, we like to say thank you by nominating a community member for active participation in the Enabling e-Learning / VLN Groups.

This week we’d like to acknowledge Martin Butts for starting a thread (well worth diving into this time of the year) about questions for parents (Intermediate/secondary context) around effective reporting and feedback. There's some valuable food for thought here. Thank you Martin for bringing this to the fore.

e-Learning Planning Framework

This is a repeat webinar for anyone who missed the opportunity to learn more about the e-Learning Planning Framework last year. Come and join Greg Carroll in this practical webinar as he takes us through using the e-Learning Planning Framework and how to analyse the data you gather using the tool.Audience: Primary and secondary school leaders or e-learning leaders with an interest in using the e-Learning Planning Framework online tool. A support discussion will feature In the Enabling e-Learning | Leadership group. Hosted in Adobe Connect with Nathaniel Louwrens.REGISTER NOW!

Teaching Parents about Chromebooks: Sue Kini is looking for some great ideas to go towards a resource that will help inform parents/whānau about GAFE. Have you created or shared anything with your parents that you can also share with Sue?

Learning and Teaching | Digital Citizenship

Who's just walked through your classroom door? Teaching in a New Zealand context means our students come from a rich diversity of cultural, social and economic backgrounds. Each year is different, so how do you get to know your learners and their families/whānau to best meet their needs and how can digital technologies help? Come join Phoebe Fabricius (Te Toi Tupu) as we share some practical ideas for getting to know our learners better. This webinar will also have UDL (Universal Design for Learning) focus. A support discussion will feature In the Enabling e-Learning | Teaching group. Hosted in Adobe Connect with Tessa Gray. REGISTER NOW!

Reporting to parents in the secondary school: Martin Butts shares a set of questions they are asking parents (years 7-13) about reporting and feedback, that better reflects 21st Century pedagogies. Martin is also interested to find out what changes other schools are making to their reporting practices.

ICT indicators: Warren Grieve advocates planning using the eLearning Planning Framework and shares his award badges programme – to help users identify their proficiency levels across a number of e-learning processes. Do you have something similar to share?

New Year e-Learning Challenge: Community members share how they want to use e-tools in 2015 to help get to know their learners and bridge the gap between between home and school. What have you got planned for this year? What are your intentions and why?

Using digital technologies with Māori and Pasifika learners, and students with special educational needs

Pasifika blogs: Looking for some support dialogue around Pasifika learners with an e-learning lens? Look no further. Manu Faaea-Semeatu shares some Pasifika blogs to read and invites you to leave some comments of your own.

Multi room MLE - the possibilities?: Chris Meehan is keen to investigate the logistics around collaborative learning between and beyond schools. Are your students engaging in learning this way? We’d love to hear more.

Class Blog: Kate Crawford is asking for some advice about setting up a simple class blog. Do you have any top tips for Kate?

Coding for Intermediate students: Several community members have responded to this request, including Hamish McLean who shares a website, 'Hour of code', that has a series and range of lessons to access.

Garden design app: Judith Anthony is looking for an app that can create garden designs, 2D and 3D and is populated with graphics, such as trees and paths. Do you know of one?

App Sharing: Anzar Chida shares how they have started BYOD for Year 9s at Mount Albert Grammar School and have created maths ibooks to help teach the students. You’re invited to use them and improve them.

Term 1 Enabling e-Learning Calendar of Events

Tēnā koutou, talofa lava and welcome to another year of engaging, inspiring and FREE e-learning activities online. We've got more great events planned for you this term, so don't miss out! We'd also like to hear what you want to see more of, so please feel free to contact Enabling e-Learningonline facilitatorsNathaniel Louwrens and Tessa Gray directly or leave comments in this blog post.

You may wish to book the following events from the Enabling e-Learning calendar into your own calendar. Feel free to tell your friends and colleagues!

Join our discussions

Let’s create a better Internet together is the catchphrase for Safer Internet day. Safer Internet Day Feb 10, 2015 is part of a wider global event where NetSafe is coordinating a series of events so that schools can get involved to, “help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.” Come join us as community members dive in and share their positive use of technologies as well as strategies for creating safe and secure Internet practices and processes in their schools.Add your comments here >>>

The Enabling e-Learning team invite us to join the community groups, engage with others and share this hub with friends and colleagues. Why not take the plunge and share your e-learning stories in 2015?Add your comments here >>>

NEW YEAR CHALLENGE: 12 February, 2015

Look out for the new challenge for 2015. The wero is for you to be brave, dive inand Finish this sentence: "This year I plan to use [>>INSERT TECHNOLOGIES HERE <<] toget to know my learners and their whānau more by..." This challenge/wero thread will feature in the Enabling e-Learning | Teaching group.

During the holidays there were many discussions, questions, tweets and blog posts shared about how you intend to continue to learn and plan for 2015. It’s exciting to see so many dedicated educators engaged in this way for our children. With all the learning and planning that has been done already, it would be great if you could share one or two of your e-learning related plans or goals, so that Enabling e-Learning community members can connect, relate and/or support one another. This up-coming thread will feature in the Enabling e-Learning | Teaching group.

DISCUSSION FORUM: What will we see in e-Learning in 2015 (March 16 - April 16)

At this time of year, a lot of people like to make predictions as to what is going to happen in certain aspects of life over the next 12 months (social, political, economics, education, technology) , none more so than the predictions about emerging technologies. This is your opportunity to join in this thread and contribute to our very own NZ education/e-learning predictions discussion for 2015. This up-coming thread will feature in the Enabling e-Learning | Technologies group.

Your input and ideas are valued and welcome in all of these forum discussions. This is your community, so please feel free to add your ideas, experience, expertise or wonderings.

Sign up for our free online workshops

Who's just walked through your classroom door? Teaching in a New Zealand context means our students come from a rich diversity of cultural, social and economic backgrounds. Each year is different, so how do you get to know your learners and their families/whānau to best meet their needs and how can digital technologies help? Come join Phoebe Fabricius (Te Toi Tupu) as we share some practical ideas for getting to know our learners better. This webinar will also have UDL (Universal Design for Learning) focus. A support discussion will feature In the Enabling e-Learning | Teaching group. Hosted in Adobe Connect with Tessa Gray. REGISTER NOW!

This is a repeat webinar for anyone who missed the opportunity to learn more about the e-Learning Planning Framework last year. Come and join Greg Carroll in this practical webinar as he takes us through using the e-Learning Planning Framework and how to analyse the data you gather using the tool.Audience: Primary and secondary school leaders or e-learning leaders with an interest in using the e-Learning Planning Framework online tool. A support discussion will feature In the Enabling e-Learning | Leadership group. Hosted in Adobe Connect with Nathaniel Louwrens.REGISTER NOW!

The e-Learning Round-Up: Every 3 weeks

Enjoy our regular digest of e-learning from across the VLN groups communities. Published every fortnight - straight to you! Every member of the Enabling e-Learning group receives this via email.

“Let’s create a better internet together” is the slogan for the global celebration today, which is organised by NetSafe.

Safer Internet Day encourages us to think about our role in developing a safer and more responsible online experience for children and young people.

The Enabling e-Learning website and community have resources for teachers and school leaders to use. These are designed to support with increasing student, parent, and teacher understanding of being a responsible digital citizen.

A digital citizen understands the rights and responsibilities of inhabiting cyberspace.

What does NetSafe say?

NetSafe defines a digital citizen as someone who:

is a confident and capable user of ICT

uses technologies to participate in educational, cultural, and economic activities

uses and develops critical thinking skills in cyberspace

is literate in the language, symbols, and texts of digital technologies

is aware of ICT challenges and can manage them effectively

uses ICT to relate to others in positive, meaningful ways

demonstrates honesty and integrity and ethical behaviour in their use of ICT

respects the concepts of privacy and freedom of speech in a digital world

contributes and actively promotes the values of digital citizenship.

Sean Lyons, Chief Technology Officer from NetSafe, discusses their definition of digital citizenship and how it fits into the National Curriculum.

What are other schools doing?

Albany Senior High School deputy principal Miranda Makin describes how digital citizenship is embedded within classroom practice so students understand and make safe and informed choices when accessing and sharing information on the Internet.

St Hilda's Collegiate keep their Internet as open as possible and manage its usage by educating their students. With ultra-fast broadband, staff and students are using the Internet constantly to both upload and download.

Use resources on Enabling e-Learning to find out more about Digital citizenship

Digital citizenship modules
These free self-paced learning modules can be used for professional development, or with your class. The modules are flexible, so you can select content that is relevant to you, your class, and your school. Questions for reflection and discussion are contained in each module. These can either be worked through face-to-face with your colleagues or you can participate in an online discussion in Digital citizenship group.

If you have friends or colleagues who don't know about Enabling e-Learning, then please feel free to invite them join this main group, as well as the sub-groups for more community-driven conversations.

Enabling e-Learning members are already connecting and asking requests, you can see some of the latest discussions here. This year we'd love to see more educators (teachers, leaders, community members) sharing their stories online. For example sharing...

What happens during the planning stages when preparing for learning opportunities that include/infuse e-learning?

What happens during a lesson or lessons when students are using or learning about digital technologies?

What happens as result of learning with digital technologies?

Reflecting on these processes would enable us to share a window into each other's practice, as well as provide an opportunity for us all to benefit from the collective wisdom and experience of this group.

We also welcome any requests or suggestions to help make this community better meet your needs. Just contact Nathaniel or myself directly.

Community members were brave enough inquire deeply into current practices, while critically reflecting on future implications. The rigour of these conversations, show how key ideas and understandings have been further developed and deepened by the respectful responses and input of others.

While references were made to localised experiences, connections were also made to current research and how this relates to organisational leadership and change.

Teaching (936 members) was also a busy group, where most of our online conversations were held. Community members regularly created authentic reasons to connect with each other, about those things most relevant to their own classroom practice; with a particular focus on meeting the needs of diverse learners through the effective use of technologies.

Experiences and opinions in online threads helped to scaffold conversations about new possibilities, while live events with guest speakers illustrated schools stories of effective practice and innovation. Teachers sharing with teachers - is still one of the most powerful aspects of connecting online.

In terms of Professional Learning(487 members) conversations, we talked about how we’re meeting our own professional learning needs through a variety of personalised ways; and while we did this, we acknowledged the impact of social and virtual technologies as responsive forms of PLD.

Community members were able to share opportunities to socially connect with each other while exchanging information online. Connections were made between different social networks and learning communities, including Twitter conversations such as:

Not surprisingly, there was a lot of interest in conversations around technologies (537 members) and how these can be purchased, used and maintained. Community members were not shy in coming forward with practical ideas and solutions for others to consider.

There was never a shortage of community members willing to jump in and provide some practical teaching advice or technical support. Links, examples and resources were shared, which has hopefully resulted in more informed choices, decisions and successful outcomes for all.

Beyond the classroom (314 members) still offered some challenges for us in schools, as we discussed ways to inform, engage and consult with the wider community (through the use of e-tools) in the following conversations;

A new wero or challenge for us in 2015 might be to find more ways to align our own knowledge of home school partnerships to theory and research where we can further our conversations, develop our learning and build new knowledge around ways we can make connections and grow learning partnerships between schools and the wider community.

In summary, we've read, viewed, listened and talked a lot in 2014. We've even come together to build new knowledge and co-construct new resources together.

Thank you to everyone who viewed, lurked, liked a post or left a comment or participated, interacted or presented in an Enabling e-Learning live event.

Thank you also to those who shone a light on their practice, by doing so, you have encouraged the rest of us to do the same.

Lastly, thank to everyone who helps make the Enabling e-Learning community a live, welcoming and safe place to engage about all those things that matter to us most about teaching and learning (with an e-learning lens).

Tēnā koutou, talofa lava, malo e lelei and welcome to the latest e-Learning pānui from across the VLN.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete ki a koe (Christmas greetings to you).

The Enabling e-Learning online team would like to thank you for your growing support and input online. We trust that you will have a relaxing and refreshing break over summer and look out for Enabling e-Learning in the new year when we'll be continuing to create learning opportunities tailored to meet your e-learning needs and address current trends as they emerge across New Zealand.

This week we’d like to acknowledge everyone of you - who has even been brave enough to dive in, and ask a question, leave a comment, like a post or complete a challenge in the VLN/Enabling e-Learning groups.

This community thrives because of your commitment to having quality conversations with each other. We hope to see more responsive and informal professional learning and development throughout 2015.

e-Learning Planning Framework

Learning and Teaching | Digital Citizenship

Are you using Minecraft to motivate writing? Community members share how Minecraft is being used in writing, as well as a number of different learning contexts; for both learners with special learning needs and abilities.

BYOD Model:Carol-Lynn Hill shares how they are about to embark on implementing a BYOD model at Cambridge Primary and is keen to hear what others have been doing with similar aged students.

New discussion post: BYOD Model: Vicki Stephens shares how the National Library Services to Schools has recently updated their BYOD information: on planning, policy, digital citizenship and practical considerations.

2014 e-Learning reflection: Community members share aspects of e-learning success in 2014. Anne Robertson showcases how the staff at her school highlighted their PLD successes in a "Sharefest" at the end of the year.

Using digital technologies with Māori and Pasifika learners, and students with special educational needs

Think Time and Collaborative Learning: Linda Ojala has shared a short video where a teacher demonstrates a strategy that promotes individual think time, where students get to figure out their own thoughts, understandings before moving onto peer or group sharing.

Check out the new Videos from Wairakei School (TKI), a series of videos about using 1-1 technologies to support learning, particularly for students with special learning needs from Enabling e-Learning's Media Gallery.

MLEs: Learning spaces and resourcing | NAPP Kōrero 6:Gaylyn Lockington shares a story about one teacher who found a way to initiate and fund the changes to his classroom space. Now, both students and teacher find this an accessible space to learn in. What's happening at your place?

Student Blogs through GAFE: Hamish McLean adds to the debate about age requirements for Google accounts. Always worth knowing the acceptable terms and conditions when using web-based tools.

Chromebook vs Ipads:GavinH shares how mobile learning is made possible with both ipads and Chromebooks. Sometimes, the tools are more effective when being outside and visa versa. What do you use in your school and why?

Does technology stifle creativity?The debate continues in this thread, where the question is asked, How do we promote creativity in schools and can creativity be measured? How do you think schools can foster creativity and what roles might technologies play?

Edmodo... help please:Claire Setz is looking to continue discussions with experienced people around the effective use of Edmono in a junior class. Can you help?

Which iPad to buy for classes? Quick opinion needed: Community members share their views and opinions on which devices to buy and why – in terms of logistics for screen size, processing and storage, so that students can access and create new knowledge and content. What are your thoughts?

Implementing GAFE using iPads: Steve Trotter shares how his school has a mixture of school-owned Chromebooks, old Windows Desktops and iPad Minis with an option for Year 5/6 students to bring their own iPad or Chromebook. He also shares some practical ways to manage Google apps on an iPad.

The summit brought together 80 school leaders and teachers from a range of countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Holland, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and the US, to consider the latest research evidence on professional learning and share their practical tools and strategies for using observation and feedback, with the aim of creating a practical guide to support the effective professional learning of teachers.

This report reviews over 200 pieces of research to identify the elements of teaching with the strongest evidence of improving attainment. It finds some common practices can be harmful to learning and have no grounding in research. Specific practices which are supported by good evidence of their effectiveness are also examined and six key factors that contribute to great teaching are identified. The report also analyses different methods of evaluating teaching including: using ‘value-added’ results from student test scores; observing classroom teaching; and getting students to rate the quality of their teaching.

It makes for some exciting reading especially around what constitutes 'good pedagogy' as well as the links between teacher behaviours, knowledge and understandings - how the brain works and how we learn best.

Some key ideas:

The most effective teachers have deep knowledge of the subjects they teach, and when teachers' knowledge falls below a certain level it is a significant impediment to students' learning.

To establish a firm foundation for improved student outcomes, teachers must integrate their knowledge about the curriculum, and about how to teach it effectively and how to assess whether students have learned it.

Examples of ineffective practice is quite telling too. EG: Ties in with other research around misconceptions about praising students ie: giving students specific, constructive feedback about their skills, knowledge and processes is more beneficial than blanketed comments about their behaviour or innate ability etc.

While the whole report is quite a sizeable, the summary is succinct. You can also use summary tools like the following to unpack this further with staff.

Tēnā koutou, talofa lava, malo e lelei and welcome to the latest e-Learning pānui from across the VLN.

This is a busy few weeks for schools, as they move towards wrapping up the year with senior students deep in exams and teachers starting to write individual reports.

It's also a good time to catch up on the last LIVE events on offer from Enabling e-Learning for the year or simply enjoy engaging in some of the many live threads that already exist, and awaiting your input.

Audience: Primary and secondary school leaders or e-learning leaders with an interest in using the e-Learning Planning Framework online tool. Join Greg Carroll in this practical webinar as he takes us through using the e-Learning Planning Framework and how to analyse the data you gather using the tool. REGISTER HERE >>>

Come join the founder of the Blended e-Learning Literacy group, Jill Hammonds, as we explore ways to use digital tools to ignite, support and extend literacy skills - for all writers. Your ideas, experiences and strategies are welcome during this webinar. REGISTER HERE >>>

Each fortnight, we like to say thank you by nominating a community member for active participation in the Enabling e-Learning / VLN Groups.

This week we’d like to acknowledge Phoebe Fabricius for her ability to stay connected while at the same time, adding and enriching online conversations in the VLN/Enabling e-Learning groups with her ideas and experiences.

e-Learning Planning Framework

Audience: Primary and secondary school leaders or e-learning leaders with an interest in using the e-Learning Planning Framework online tool. Join Greg Carroll in this practical webinar as he takes us through using the e-Learning Planning Framework and how to analyse the data you gather using the tool. REGISTER HERE >>>

Learning and Teaching | Digital Citizenship

Come join the founder of the Blended e-Learning Literacy group, Jill Hammonds, as we explore ways to use digital tools to ignite, support and extend literacy skills - for all writers. Your ideas, experiences and strategies are welcome during this webinar. REGISTER HERE >>>

Professional Learning

2014 e-Learning reflection: Nathaniel Louwrens invites us to share a highlight of how we've used e-learning in 2014 (big or small) so we can all celebrate together and possibly consider how we might do something similar in our classrooms in 2015.

Starting out:Megan McLellan responds to others as they discuss what tertiary study means to them. Do you have any uplifting study stories to share too?

MLE- Do these actually raise student achievement?Alison Taylor responds to the contributions shared with some enlightening and invaluable comments and opinions from her own students. Well worth a read. What do you students say about their learning environment?

Six myths of digital technology: In this post, Nathaniel shares how Mark Anderson discusses some myths surrounding digital technologies and education in a blog post entitled, 6 myths of digital technology. What do you think about these myths?

Creating Apps:Allanah King reveals some tips for creating mobile friendly websites and apps. What have you tried, used and it has worked for you or your students? We’d love to hear more about the process and the product.

Curriculum design and review | An Enabling e-Learning and NZC event: Chris McLean asks, Do students at your school experience a curriculum that excites and challenges them? Is it future focused and inclusive? Does it affirm New Zealand’s unique bicultural identity while also celebrating the multicultural make up of your school? How have have you localised the curriculum with and for your students?

Each fortnight, we like to say thank you by nominating a community member for active participation in the Enabling e-Learning / VLN Groups.

This week we’d like to acknowledge Justine Hughes for her professional learning and research into the 'power of online communities like the VLN'. Justine describes herself as 'a passionate teacher and learner obsessed with eLearning, Blended Learning etc and the potential they have to change the face of education'. Justine is also looking for teachers to help with her research.

Beyond the classroom

A whānau that meets and eats together stays together: Jason Ruakere continues his blog sharing 'those things' most important to Māori students with an e-learning lens. How else have your Māori students affirmed their culture, language and identity through the use of e-tools?

Interacting with other schools using IT: Sarah Robertson is asking, what are the best tools to use in order to interact with other schools online etc. Do you have any experiences and hot tips about connecting between schools to share with Sarah?

Using digital technologies with Māori and Pasifika learners, and students with special educational needs

NZQA and assessment online:Vivita Rabo adds a rich perspective to the argument that while technology is becoming a necessity to schooling and assessment, the tools ought to accommodate for the diversity of learners and accessibility.

MLE and LEADERSHIP:Cathiesten asks, How do leaders develop an effective team approach to working in MLEs? Mark Osborne offers some considerations prior to and after modern learning environments are in place. Do you have some thoughts as well?

Digital tools vs tools … e-Learning vs learning: There’s been an age-old argument about the semantics of learning including whether we use ‘e’ in e-learning or not. Nathaniel asks, Are we at a place to begin to drop the ‘e’ and remove words such as ‘digital’ and ‘21st Century’ or is there still reason to keep them? What do you think?

Modern Learning Environment Furniture Tips: Nix asked if anyone has tried different furniture/equipment/space options that have really worked for them in their MLE. The responses in this thread are valuable if you are starting out on this journey yourselves.

Converting Prefabs: Amanda wants to know if anyone is willing to share photos of how they have converted their prefabs to enhance MLP. Do you have examples to share?